SAO Western Slavonia

SAO Western Slavonia (Serbian: "SAO Zapadna Slavonija" or САО Западна Славонија) or Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia was a Serbian autonomous region (oblast) in Croatia. It was formed on 12 August 1991 [http://www.centardomovinskograta.hr/1990.htm] and was subsequently included into Republic of Serbian Krajina.

History

Shortly after proclamation of SAO Western Slavonia Serbian forces helped by Yugoslav Army has taken Okučane and Daruvar creating danger that Slavonia will be severed from Croatia. During next months there will be fierce fighting for Pakrac and ethnic cleansing of non-Serbs from western Slavonia. On October 31 1991 Croatian forces launched two operations ("Otkos 10" and "Orkan 91") to "recover" the area and pushed back Serb/Yugoslav forces. In the operation, Daruvar was taken, most of the Serb population was left and has been expelled. The Slavonian Orthodox religious center in Pakrac was razed as well. During retreat Serbian forces has committed Voćin massacre in which between 32 [http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/ses-ii030115e.htm] and 45 [http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/vocin.html] Croatian civilians have been killed. Around month after that ceasefire is signed.

Daruvar Agreement

On February 18 1993 Croatian and local Serb leaders signed the "Daruvar Agreement". The Agreement was kept secret and was working towards normalizing life for the locals on the battlefield line. However, the Knin authorities learned of the deal and arrested the Serbian leaders responsible for it. [ [http://www.ffzg.hr/hsd/polemos/drugi/d.html hr icon War in Croatia 1991-95, Part II] ] It was widely believed that the Serb leaders there were also willing to accept peaceful reintegration into Croatia. Fact|date=March 2008

SAO Western Slavonia was eliminated and the area reintegrated into Croatia in just two days in May 1995, during Operation Flash, in which 83 civilians were killed. Fact|date=March 2008 It caused an exodus of 30,000 people. As retaliation, Milan Martić launched rockets at Zagreb.

Administrative divisions

Territory of Western Slavonia protected by United Nations included 4 municipalities: Okučani, Pakrac, Daruvar and Grubišno Polje. However, the army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina controlled only the municipality of Okučani and part of the municipality of Pakrac.

References

ee also

*Republic of Serbian Krajina
*Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem

External links

* [http://www.veritas.org.yu/slike/krajina.jpgMap of the Republic of Serbian Krajina] - map show territory of Western Slavonia controlled by Serb forces (green) and territory of Western Slavonia under UN protection (orange).